What "provisional" means
In California, a driver's license issued to someone under 18 carries the word provisional (DMV handbook). You get it after the permit stage, which the handbook sets as being at least 16, holding a permit for 6 months, driver education and training, 50 hours of supervised practice and a passed drive test. Those steps, and the knowledge test that starts it all, are on our California DMV practice test page.
The provisional license lets you drive alone, but with extra rules. Some last for the first 12 months, others until you turn 18, and penalties for violations follow you past your 18th birthday.
The two first-year restrictions
According to the DMV's Provisional Licensing fact sheet (FFDL 19) and the handbook, during the first 12 months you may not:
- Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Carry passengers under 20 years old, unless you are accompanied by a California-licensed parent or guardian, a California-licensed driver aged 25 or older, or a certified driving instructor.
The fact sheet adds that local laws may restrict driving hours further, so a city curfew can apply on top of the state rule.
The handbook also says provisional drivers may not drive for pay or drive vehicles that need a commercial Class A, B or C license.
Quick reference
| Situation in the first 12 months | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Driving alone at 10 p.m. | Yes |
| Driving alone at midnight | No, unless an exception applies |
| A 17-year-old friend in the car, no adult | No |
| A 17-year-old friend in the car, your parent riding along | Yes |
| A 17-year-old friend in the car, a licensed 21-year-old riding along | No: the adult must be at least 25, a parent or guardian, or an instructor |
The exceptions, and the signed note
When reasonable transportation is not available and you need to drive, the law allows exceptions that let you drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., or transport an immediate family member, without a supervising adult. You must carry a signed note explaining why you must drive and when the need will end (FFDL 19):
| Reason | Who signs the note | What it must include |
|---|---|---|
| Medical necessity | Your physician | Diagnosis and probable date of recovery |
| School or school-authorized activity | Principal, dean or designee | The activity and its probable end date |
| Employment necessity | Your employer | Confirmation that you need to drive for work |
| Immediate need of a family member | Parent or guardian | The reason, the family member and the end date |
An emancipated minor needs no note, according to the fact sheet, but must have declared emancipation when applying for the permit and is still subject to the driver education and training requirements.
Note what the exceptions do not cover: they do not let you drive a group of friends home late. The passenger exception is about an immediate family member. Keep the note with you whenever you rely on an exception.
Phones: a rule that lasts until 18
The phone rule is not limited to the first year. The fact sheet states that it is against the law for drivers under 18 to use a cellphone or other wireless communication device while driving, including a hands-free device. The only exceptions it lists are a call for emergency services or driving on private property. The handbook says the same: minors may not answer calls or send or respond to text messages while driving, except to call for emergency help.
How long the rules last
| Rule | How long |
|---|---|
| No driving 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. | First 12 months |
| No passengers under 20 without a qualifying adult | First 12 months |
| No phone use, even hands-free | Until 18 |
| License marked provisional | Until 18 |
| Restrictions, suspensions or probation already imposed | Until served in full, even past 18 |
Sources: FFDL 19 and the handbook.
What happens after collisions or tickets
The DMV watches provisional drivers more closely than adults. The handbook says that if you have collisions or traffic violations within the first 12 months, the DMV may restrict or suspend your driving privilege. It lists the steps:
- Two at-fault collisions, two traffic violation convictions, or one of each: for 30 days you cannot drive unless a licensed adult at least 25 rides with you.
- Three at-fault collisions or convictions, in any combination: your privilege is suspended for six months and you are on probation for one year.
- More at-fault collisions or convictions while on probation: another suspension.
The older FFDL 19 fact sheet (rev. 7/2019) describes the same ladder with points: a 30-day restriction at 2 or more points in 12 months, and a 6-month suspension plus 1-year probation at 3 or more points in 12 months.
Two points worth remembering from the handbook:
- Turning 18 does not erase anything. Existing restrictions, suspensions and probation continue until served.
- Alcohol or drugs: a conviction for using alcohol or a controlled substance at ages 15 to 20 leads the court to order the DMV to suspend your privilege for one year, or to delay your eligibility to apply for a license.
The alcohol limit itself is stricter for young drivers: it is illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.01% or higher if you are under 21 (handbook, Alcohol and Drugs).
Parents can cancel the license
The parent or guardian who signed your application can cancel your license by completing a Request for Cancellation or Surrender of a Driver License or ID Card form (handbook).
Moving to California with a license from another state
A minor who surrenders an out-of-state license for a California one is subject to all the California restrictions and requirements, and proof of driver education and training may be required (FFDL 19).
Why it pays to know these rules before the test
Provisional license rules, phone rules for minors and the under-21 alcohol limit come straight from the handbook sections that the knowledge test draws on. Our free California permit practice questions are original, written from the current DL 600 handbook, and point to the section behind each answer. They are not the DMV's own questions.
Sources
- California Driver's Handbook, Getting an Instruction Permit and Driver's License — California DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
- Fast Facts FFDL 19, Provisional Licensing (rev. 7/2019) — California DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
- California Driver's Handbook, Laws and Rules of the Road (continued) — California DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
- California Driver's Handbook, Safe Driving (continued) — California DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
- California Driver's Handbook, Alcohol and Drugs — California DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
- Teen Drivers — California DMV (checked September 30, 2026)
passmock is an independent practice resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or operated by the California Department of Motor Vehicles or the State of California. Our questions are original practice questions written from the California Driver's Handbook.
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